Bob Crampsey
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Crampsey was a Scottish
association football historian, author and broadcaster, described as a "much loved Scottish cultural institution" by The Times
. He had a Doctorate in Sports Journalism from Stirling University..
Born in Glasgow
, Crampsey was a widely respected pundit on BBC Radio Scotland
's Sportsound
from 1987 until retiring in 2001. He was also a mainstay of STV's Scotsport
. Crampsey was the author and editor of the Now You Know column of the Glasgow
Evening Times
, where he would answer sporting questions submitted by readers, until 2006.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow
and former head teacher
of St. Ambrose High School in Coatbridge
, Crampsey was 1965's "Brain of Britain
". He followed this up eight years later by reaching the semi-finals of Mastermind
, choosing the American Civil War
as his specialist subject. He was also an associate of the Royal College of Music
and a keen fan of Somerset County Cricket Club
. He served in the Royal Air Force
from 1952-55.
said of Crampsey:
First Minister of Scotland
Alex Salmond
responded to the news of Crampsey's death:
As well as being an authority on Scottish football, Dr Crampsey wrote a number of books on non-football related subjects including:
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
association football historian, author and broadcaster, described as a "much loved Scottish cultural institution" by The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. He had a Doctorate in Sports Journalism from Stirling University..
Born in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, Crampsey was a widely respected pundit on BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland
BBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
's Sportsound
Sportsound
Sportsound is BBC Radio Scotland's main radio sports show. It provides coverage to listeners on medium wave, FM, DAB Digital Radio and via the internet. It is best known for its exclusive live commentary of Scottish Premier League football games. It is broadcast 7 days a week, and on on-match days...
from 1987 until retiring in 2001. He was also a mainstay of STV's Scotsport
Scotsport
Scotsport was a Scottish sports television programme, broadcast on STV in northern and central Scotland, as well as on Border Television in southern Scotland. It was recognised as the world's longest-running sports television magazine....
. Crampsey was the author and editor of the Now You Know column of the Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
Evening Times
Evening Times
The Evening Times is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland.-History:The paper, an evening sister paper of The Herald, was established in 1876. The paper's slogan is "Nobody Knows Glasgow Better"....
, where he would answer sporting questions submitted by readers, until 2006.
A graduate of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and former head teacher
Head teacher
A head teacher or school principal is the most senior teacher, leader and manager of a school....
of St. Ambrose High School in Coatbridge
Coatbridge
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. The town, with neighbouring Airdrie, is part of the Greater Glasgow urban area. The first settlement of the area stretches back to the Stone Age era...
, Crampsey was 1965's "Brain of Britain
Brain of Britain
Brain of Britain is a BBC radio general knowledge quiz, broadcast on BBC Radio 4.-History:It began as a slot in What Do You Know? in 1953 before becoming a programme in its own right in 1967. It was chaired by Franklin Engelmann until his death in 1972.-Format:The format of the quiz is simple...
". He followed this up eight years later by reaching the semi-finals of Mastermind
Mastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
, choosing the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as his specialist subject. He was also an associate of the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
and a keen fan of Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...
. He served in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
from 1952-55.
Death
Crampsey died on 27 July 2008 after a long illness, aged 78. He was survived by his wife Ronnie and their four daughters.Tributes
Former Sportsound colleague Richard GordonRichard Gordon (broadcaster)
Richard Gordon is a Scottish radio and television presenter.Gordon, an ex-banker, was educated in Aberdeen at Skene Square Primary, Aberdeen Grammar School and Aberdeen College of Commerce....
said of Crampsey:
First Minister of Scotland
First Minister of Scotland
The First Minister of Scotland is the political leader of Scotland and head of the Scottish Government. The First Minister chairs the Scottish Cabinet and is primarily responsible for the formulation, development and presentation of Scottish Government policy...
Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson "Alex" Salmond MSP is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland. He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the Leader of the Scottish National Party , having served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Gordon...
responded to the news of Crampsey's death:
Selected bibliography
His most famous football related works are:- The Game for the Game's Sake (The History of Queen's Park Football ClubQueen's Park F.C.Queen's Park Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland. The club are currently the only amateur club in the Scottish League; their amateur status is reflected by their motto, Ludere Causa Ludendi – to play for the sake of playing.Queen's Park are the oldest...
1867-1907) - The First 100 Years (The Official Centenary History of the Scottish Football LeagueScottish Football LeagueThe Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
) - Mr. SteinJock SteinJohn 'Jock' Stein CBE was a Scottish association football player and manager. He became the first manager of a British side to win the European Cup, with Celtic in 1967...
(his best seller)
As well as being an authority on Scottish football, Dr Crampsey wrote a number of books on non-football related subjects including:
- The Young Civilian, A Glasgow Wartime Boyhood (1987)
- The King's Grocer, Life of Sir Thomas LiptonThomas LiptonSir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, 1st Baronet, KCVO was a Scotsman of Ulster-Scots parentage who was a self-made man, merchant, and yachtsman. He created the Lipton tea brand and was the most persistent challenger in the history of the America's Cup.-Parentage and childhood:Lipton was born in Glasgow...
(1995)